Movable platform



A. H. LEVENE.

MOVABLE PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1919.

Patented Apr 13, 1920 5 SHEETSSHEET 1 A TTOR/VEYS.

A, H, LEVE'NE.

MOVABLE PLATFORM.

APPLICATION HLED NOV. 3, 1919.

1 36,973, Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I f m ATTORNEYS,

A. H. LEVENE.

MOVABLE PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV- 3, 1919.

1,336,973. Patented Apr. 13,1920.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

= I INVENTOIR l /y M ,l BY w d I I I ATTORNEYS.

A. H. LEVENE.

MOVABLE PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED nov- 3, 1919.

1,336,973. Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ol '/10 m m J 15' .1 I

z E 18 E 17 l5 2: a .2

A. H. LEVENE.

MOVABLE PLATFORM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3. I919.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

N N L n Qshk kww ALBERT H. LEYENE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MOVABLE PLATFORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Application filed November 3, 1919. Serial No. 335,463.

To all whom it may (on cam Be it known that I, ALBERT H. LnvnNi-i, acitizen of the United States, residing in the city and county ofPhiladelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulMovable Platform, of which the following is a specification.

It is now the practice in up to date manufacturing plants for theworkman at the different machines to stack the finished articles onmovable platforms and when a platform is full an elevating truck ispassed beneath it and the platform with its contents is removed to adesired point of utilization. These platforms as heretofore constructedhave been made to fit the heights of the different elevating trucks onthe market and as it frequently happens that different factories havedifierent types of elevating trucks, which can be only used withplatforms of special types or sizes, it is necessary for a factory topurchase platforms which can be used with the special type of elevatingtrucks which they have on hand.

It is the object of my present invention to devise a novel constructionof a movable truck platform which can be readily adjusted to any desiredheight of platform truck and also readily adjustable to suit thecharacter of the material which is to be handled, which can be quicklyand readily converted from an ordinary platform type into a skeletontype of truck adapted to carry shelves or into one having a closed frontand rear or into one of the box type of construction.

With the above in view my present invention comprehends a novelconstruction of a truck platform wherein the parts are constructed andassembled in a novel manner and wherein the supporting legs or standardsare adjustable so that the height of the platform from the floor may bevaried in accordance with conditions and requirements met with inpractice.

It further comprehends a novel construction of a truck platform havingcorner stakes adjustably connected therewith and provided'with a novelconstruction and arrangement of shelves which when unfastened atspecified points can be lowered to form closed sides on the truckplatform.

Other novel features of constrpction and advantage will hereinafter moreclearly appear in the detailed description of the invention.

For the purpose of illustrating my invenwhich in practice will givesatisfactory and reliable results. It is, however, to be understood thatthese embodiments are typical only and that the variousinstrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to thepreelse arrangement and organization of these lnstrumentalities asherein set forth.

Figure 1 represents, in perspective, a truck platform, embodying myinvention.

Fig. 2 represents, in perspective and in detached position, theframework which supports the truck body on which the articles areplaced.

Fig. 3 represents, in perspective, the truck platform having the cornerangled and adj ustably connected therewith.

Fig. 4; represents, in perspective, a truck platform having sheet metalor other plate removably connected to close the front and rear ends ofthe truck platform.

Fig. 5 represents, in perspective, the truck platform as it appears whenprovided with shelves.

Fig. 6 represents in elevation the construction of a bottom cornerstandard so that an antifriction or wheel caster can be connectedtherewith to change the platform into a truck.

Fig. 7 represents, in side elevation, the construction seen in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 represents in perspective, the platform truck provided with frontand rear plates and with shelves.

Fig. 9 represents, in perspective, the construction seen in Fig. 8 withthe shelves dropped to form a box type of platform.

Fig. 10 represents a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 represents a section on line 1111 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 represents an elevation showing the manner in which the truckscan be stacked.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings:

The truck is provided with a framework which consists of a rectangularor other shaped frame 2 formed preferably of structural metal such asfor example a single angle bar which is bent into the desired shape andhas its free ends connected together by welding, riveting or any otherdesired manner.

3 designates the body of the truck platform which preferably consists ofa sheet metal plate having the corrugat ons 4, the marginal edges ofthis plate resting 011 the bottom flange of the angle which forms theframe 2 and is secured thereto by rivets or other fastening devices 5,see more particularly Fig. 10, said fastening devices bemg located inthe corrugations so that the body 3 will present a flush surface. Inorder that dirt' or foreign material which collects in the corrugations4 may be readily removed, I provide one or more apertures 6 in thebottom of such corrugations. F ixedly secured to the corners of theframe 2 by means of fastening devices 7 are the depending brackets 8which have the apertures 9 formed in them so that the adjustable cornerangles 10 can be adj ustably connected therewith by means of fasteningdevices 11 such as for example bolts and nuts which pass through desiredapertures 12 in the angles 10.

It will be apparent that by connecting the standards formed by theangles 10 to the truck platform so that they can be readily adjusted,the height of the body 3 from the floor may be varied to suit differentheight platform trucks. The corner standards formed by the angle 10 mayextend to any desired height above the body 3 and the apertures 12 areformed in each face of the angle and preferably extend in spacedrelationship from the bottom to the top thereof so that they can beadjustably connected to the body portion of the truck platform, and alsoso that they can be properly braced by means of cross angles or bars 13,see Fig. 4. lVhenever desired a front plate 15 and a rear plate 16 isconnected to the angles 10 by means of fastening devices 17, as will beunderstood by reference to Fig. 4.

It will thus be seen at any time desired the front plate 15 and the rearplate 16 can be removed and it will be apparent that one or more of suchfront and rear plates may be employed in accordance with the characterof the material.

18 designates the shelves any desired number of which may be employedand for convenience of illustration, I have shown a plurality of shelvesas being employed. The detailed construction of these shelves will 'bebest understood by reference to Fig. 11 from which it will be seen thatthe outer side flange of a shelf is bent upwardly as indicated at 19while the opposite side flanges 20 and the end flanges 21 are bentdownwardly in order to reinforce the construction. The shelves arepivoted to the juxtaposed corner standards 10 by means of fasteningdevices 22 and at the central portion of the truck they are secured tothe cross angles 13 by means of removable fastening devices 23. If thefastening devices 23 are removed the shelves 18 will swing into theposition seen in Fig. 9 and a box type of truck platform will be formed.

Any desired number of shelves may be employed so that certain of theseshelves may have the function of forming sides of a compartment whileother shelves can be secured in a horizontal position and have thefunction of shelves.

Each adjustable corner angle has connected to it a foot piece 24 whichconsists of an angle or casting seated within the flanges of a cornerangle and riveted bolted or otherwise connected thereto. lilachi footpiece is off-set as at 25 and terminates in a rounded bottom plate 26which serves as an antifriction device in case the truck platform is tobe moved along the floor and this bottom rounded portion 26 is aperturedas at 27 in order to enable it to receive the shank of an antifrictionball or roller casting or a caster of any desired type, it beingunderstood that when such casters are employed the truck platformbecomes a combined truck and truck platform.

It will be understood that in accordance with my present invention eachcorner angle is provided with a. foot piece so that the corner angleswill not cut into the floor or foundation when the platform is loaded.

It will be clear from the foregoing that in :wicordanee with my presentinvention the corner angles are adjustably connected with the truckplatform in such a manner that the body of the platform will be at theproper height from the ground so that the elevating truck which theindividual has in his able platform. The movable platform can thus beused with any desired height of elevating truck.

()wing to the novel construction and arrangement of the foot cornerangles of the movable platform, the platforms can be stacked one abovethe other when desired as will be readily understood by reference to Fig.' 12.

In accordance with my present invention the superstructure of themovable platform can be readily converted from a superstructureconsisting simply of corner angles into one of racks. one of shelves orthe shelves can be adjusted so that a box type of superstructure can bereadily provided with a minimum amount of labor.

'hen the trucks are stacked one above the other it will be apparent thatthe foot pieces of an upper platform will interlock with the angles orwith the body portionof an under platform so that. a rigid constructionwill be provided.

superimposed plant can be used with the movpieces carried by the orotherwise Secured to the brackets 8. The

purpose of the guide angles is to guide the elevating truck as it ismoved under the truck 'latform.

While have preferred to show the body portion or table of the truckplatform consisting of a corrugated steel plate, it will beunderstoodthat it is within the scope of my invention to employin lieuof this i platform.

corrugated plate a fiat steel-or other plate and in many cases inpractice wooden boards or planks are employed. The upper face of suchplate or board is preferably below the upper face of the angles formingthe framework, so that the upper flanges of such angles will serve toprevent displacement of the material placed on the truck If a corrugatedplate or its equivalent is employed the fastening devices are preferablyplaced in the corrugations so that the upper face of the plate willpresent a flush surface.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a new and usefulconstruction of a movable platform which embodies the features ofadvantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention andthe above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shownand described preferred embodiments thereof which will give in practicesatisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that suchembodiments are susceptible of modification in various particularswithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacr1-ficing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my, invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters'Patent, is Y 1. A movable truck platform, comprising abody portion, and corner standards adjustably connected to said bodyportion, whereby the height of the body portion from the ground may bevaried to enable the use of truck platforms of different heights.

2. A movable truck platform, comprising a body portion consisting of anangle framework bent to shape and connected together, a sheet ofcorrugated metal secured to said framework, and corner standardsadjustably connected with said body portion, whereby the height of thebody portion from the ground may be varied to enable the use of truckplatforms of different heights.

3. A movable truck platform, comprising a body portion, consisting of aframework, a corrugated metal plate, fastening devices in thecorrugations to secure the plate to the framework, and corner standardsadjustably connected to said body portion, whereby the height of thebody portion from'the ground may be varied to enable the use of truckplat-forms of different heights.

4. A movable truck platform, comprising a body portion formed by astructural metal bar bent to shape and having its free ends connectedtogether, a corrugated steel plate,

6. A movable truck platform having abody portion, corner standardsadjustably connected to the body portion, whereby the height of the bodyportion from the ground may be varied, and a foot piece connected 'toeach corner standard, each foot piece having an offset portion to enablethe stacking of the platforms and provided with a foot flange having arounded body portion.

7 A movable truck platform having a body portion, corner standardsadjustably connected to the body portion, whereby the height of the bodyportion from the ground may be varied, and a foot piece connected toeach corner standard, each foot piece having an offset portion to enablethe stacking of the platforms and provided with a foot flange having arounded body portion and provided with means to receive an antifrictiondevice.

8. A movable truck platform, comprising a body portion, corner standardsadjustably connected to said body portion to enable the height of thebody portion from the ground to be varied, said standards havingtheirflanges provided with longitudinally spaced apertures, a front plateremovably secured to the front standard and a rear late removablysecured to the rear standard 9. A movable truck platform, comprising abody portion, corner standards adjustably connected to said body portionand having their flanges provided with longitudinally spaced apertures,a front plate secured to the front standards, a rear plate secured tothe rear standards, sectional shelves pivotally connected to saidstandards, and means to support the juxtaposed portion of the shelfsections.

10. A movable truck platform, comprising a body portion, cornerstandards adjustably connected to said body portion and having theirflanges provided with longitudinally spaced apertures, a front platesecured to the front standard, a rear plate secured to the rearstandard,.sectional shelves ivotfastening devices are removed permittingthe shelves to swing downwardly to convert the platform into-a box typeof platform.

"11. A movable truck platform, comprisin a body portion, cornerstandards adjustably connected to said body portion and having theirflanges provided with longitudinally spaced apertures, a front plateconnected to the front standards, a rear plate connected to the rearstandards.'and a plurality of superimposed sectional shelves, eachsection being pivotally connected to its respective standard, andfastening devices to retain said shelves in a horizontal position, saidshelves swinging downwardly when the fastening devices for a shelf areremoved, to convert the platform into a box type of platform.

12. A superstructure for a platform, comprising uprights and sectionalshelves, each shelf section being movably connected with the juxtaposeduprights, and means to lock,

said shelf. sections in horizontal position, whereby when said lockingmeans are released the shelf sections will move downwardly to formsides.

13. A superstructure for a platform, comprising uprights having shelfsections each of which is movably connected to its respective upright,means to lock the shelf sections in a substantially horizontal positionto form a continuous shelf, and a front and rear closure connected tosaid upright whereby when said locking means are released the shelf willmove downwardly to convert the superstructure into a box type ofstructure.

14. A platform superstructure, comprising' uprights and sectionalshelves, each shelf section being movably connected with the juxtaposeduprights, and means to lock said shelf sections in horizontal position,whereby when said locking means are released the shelf sections can bemoved upwardly or downwardly to form sides.

ALBERT H. LEVENE. Witnesses v C. D. MCVAY, F. A. NEWTON.

